C.B. Potts's Blog, page 24

Oh, Monday. or. Let's Talk About Columbus, Shall We?

Yes, today is Columbus Day. And there are people who have problems with that, on the fairly decent grounds that Columbus himself was a morally reprehensible figure who also didn't actually discover America. It's a position I'm sympathetic to, but I don't think we'll be getting rid of Columbus Day anytime soon.

Here's why:

Columbus Day has as little to do with the historic Columbus as the Westboro Baptist Church has to do with the historic Christ. Columbus, as he actually existed and acted, is i...

I really like Banksy

You Should Watch This Video & Then You Should Make Everyone You Know Watch It Too

Malala Yousafzai leaves Jon Stewart speechless and in awe: http://www.businessinsider.com/malala-yousafzai-left-jon-stewart-speechless-2013-10

I have a bunch of questions for you

How do leaves know when it's time to fall? And they never fall alone - they go in small groups or not at all. How does that work? One wonders if the leaf lets hold of the tree or it's the tree that says Go. Now.

That presupposes the parting is not amicable. Perhaps the opposite is true, and it's a wrenching, horrid loss for the trees every spring. I prefer to think of it differently: the tree takes the role parental, and the leaves become the children, setting off for their next adventure. The...

Monday Morning

Apparently there is massive fraud in the SSDI program. This was on the news this morning. Color me unshocked. I have never been able to make heads or tails out of the disability system: people I know who are literally partially paralyzed - and we're not talking "I can't move my pinkie finger" here - still have to go to work to make ends meet, while other people get big checks every month - and they cut firewood, build houses, etc.

I absolutely think the system should be reformed, and perhaps...

Rise and Shine, Rise and Shine, Rise and Shine

"I will go mad!" he announced.

"Good idea," said Ford Prefect, clambering down from the rock on which he had been sitting.

Arthur's brain somersaulted. His jaw did press-ups.

"I went mad for a while," said Ford, "did me no end of good."

"You see," said Ford, "- ..."

"Where have you been?" interrupted Arthur, now that his head had finished working out.

"Around," said Ford, "around and about." He grinned in what he accurately judged to be an infuriating manner. "I just took my
mind off the hook for a...

A List of Necessary Things

A List of Necessary Things
Often overlooked
That you'll want to keep on hand

Because you never know
Who you will encounter
Or what the day will bring

Hard candies are essential
The wrapped kind are best
Peppermints soothe skinned knees and sore souls
With nearly equal aplomb

Collect fireworks
The little kind
Snappers and bangers and flashes of light
A handful makes an evening magic
And makes wee boys of men

Never throw rope away
Nor string nor twine nor wire
Rubber bands and twist ties
Zip ties - those are...

Dune Fixes Everything

When in doubt, it is sometimes wise to go back to where you began.

The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.

Thank you, Frank.

And thank you to those of you who have been pretty much saying the same thing lately. Who knew? Turns out you all are a pretty smart bunch :-)

Tuesday Morning, Thus Far

It stormed all night, and it's fixing to storm all day. I'm glad of that. There are times when we all need to see the lightning. There are times when we all need to see the rainbow.

The thing about apostasy is that it can become habitual, an addiction, as it were, of the soul. I mean, there are some people who examine their belief system and for whatever reason, finding it wanting, shed it off, find another, and are thereafter forever content. It's a one-time deal for them. They be...

Very Tightly Flocked - I need help!

Do any of you all know how to compress a video file from 106 mbs to 25 mbs (max)? I have no idea how to do this.

ETA: Never mind, I learned how to do it!